Sushant Singh Rajput’s death: A timeline of Rhea Chakraborty’s online trolling, his time in prison and his subsequent bail

Last update:October 25, 2024, 17:43 IST

On Friday, Rhea Chakraborty reached a turning point in her four-year ordeal following the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. The Supreme Court dismissed the vigilance circular against her and her family, providing a sense of closure.

In September 2020, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Rhea Chakraborty in connection with the investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.

On Friday, Rhea Chakraborty found some closure to a four-year ordeal she had faced since the death of her boyfriend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The actor was found dead in June 2020, during the lockdown, at his home in Mumbai. Her death, ruled a suicide, became the center of a highly publicized legal and media storm, implicating Rhea and her family. She and her brother, Showik, were arrested in a narcotics case and faced scrutiny from multiple central agencies. This week, the Supreme Court dismissed the look-out circular (LOC) against him, marking a turning point in a journey plagued by legal battles and public defamation.

June 2020: Sushant Singh Rajput’s tragic death

On June 14, 2020, the Hindi film industry was rocked by the news of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. The 34-year-old actor was found dead in his Mumbai apartment and the initial cause was reported as suicide. At that time, Rhea Chakraborty had been in a relationship with Sushant for about a year. She had lived with him until a week before his death, after which she returned to her residence. The death of a promising young actor during the COVID-19 lockdown attracted enormous media attention and speculation, leading to a series of investigations.

July 2020: Complicity to suicide case filed against Rhea

Sushant’s family filed a case on July 25, 2020, accusing Rhea of ​​abetment to suicide, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement, theft, criminal breach of trust and cheating. The FIR was lodged in Patna, Bihar, where Sushant’s father lived. This case sparked intense public interest and media scrutiny, making Rhea a central figure in the narrative surrounding Sushant’s death.

August 2020: Investigations conducted by ED, CBI and NCB

By August 2020, the case had surpassed the initial accusations. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched an investigation into possible money laundering in connection with Sushant’s death. Rhea and her brother were questioned by the ED on August 7. Soon after, on August 19, the Supreme Court transferred the investigation into Sushant’s death to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), taking it away from the Mumbai Police.

Simultaneously, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) launched a parallel investigation into the alleged drug use and trafficking related to the case. This added another layer of complexity and fueled a media frenzy, as conversations about Bollywood’s alleged drug culture gained momentum.

September 2020: Rhea’s arrest and legal battles

Rhea Chakraborty was arrested by the NCB on September 8, 2020, on charges of supplying marijuana to Sushant. The arrest was widely covered by the media, amplifying the controversy. Rhea was taken to judicial custody, where she spent almost a month before she was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on October 7. His brother, Showik, also faced arrest during this period, adding to the family’s legal challenges.

The storm of social networks and online trolling

When Rhea’s name emerged in connection with Sushant’s case, she faced a wave of intense trolling and defamation, particularly on social media. The reaction was relentless, with death threats, derogatory memes and accusations calling her a “gold digger” and “murderer.” Many were quick to assume his guilt long before a legal verdict was reached. This social media trial deeply affected Rhea’s mental and emotional well-being, significantly damaging her public image.

Career recession and limited career opportunities

Rhea Chakraborty, who had earlier been active in the Hindi film industry with films like Jalebi and Half Girlfriend, saw her career stagnate. The controversy surrounding Sushant’s death significantly clouded his professional prospects and film offers dried up. Since 2020, it has had only one release, Chehra, a delayed film that had been shot before the pandemic. Her public appearances diminished and the once-promising actress found herself on the sidelines of the industry.

However, in 2023, Rhea attempted to rebuild her career and returned as a gang leader on MTV’s reality show Roadies. Additionally, she launched a podcast, Chapter 2, with notable guests such as Sushmita Sen, Aamir Khan, Zakir Khan, and Farhan Akhtar. This initiative helped Rhea reconnect with the public and regain a sense of normalcy after years of turmoil.

2023-2024: legal protection and verdict of the Supreme Court

After years of legal battles, Rhea finally found some relief earlier this year. The Bombay High Court quashed the letters of credit issued by the CBI against Rhea and her family, highlighting the lack of sufficient grounds for such actions. The court emphasized that a fundamental right like the right to travel cannot be restricted without due process of law. He noted that “the LOC cannot be kept pending indefinitely… although the petitioners have cooperated with the investigation.”

The Supreme Court’s recent decision to dismiss the CBI’s appeal against this verdict provided further closure. Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan criticized the CBI petition as “frivolous” and questioned the logic behind the continued restrictions. The court’s stance marked a major legal victory for Rhea, ending years of uncertainty over her moves and providing a sense of vindication.